Dirk Barnett Named Creative Director of Maxim

Fresh off his much-lauded redesign of Blender (may it rest in peace), Dirk Barnett (at left) has been appointed creative director of lad mag Maxim, publisher Alpha Media Group announced today. Before shaking up things at Blender, Barnett worked for The New York Times Magazine‘s Key and Play spin-offs, where he oversaw art direction and design, including the original design for Key. With 9 medals and 93 merits from the Society of Publication Designers already under his belt, Barnett may well add to his stash of honors next Friday when SPD announces the winners of its 44th annual awards at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. According to the invite, dress code for the gala is “black tie preferred, muzzles optional.”